foundational

/faʊnˈdeɪ.ʃən.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /faʊnˈdeɪ.ʃən.əl/ (ame, ipa) · /fau̇n-ˈdā-sh(ə-)nəl/ (ame, mw)

foundational — adjective

  • foundationalpositive
  • more foundationalcomparative
  • most foundationalsuperlative

1. providing the basic ideas, skills, or structures on which something larger can l

1.形容詞C1
釋義

providing the basic ideas, skills, or structures on which something larger can later be built; describing what must exist first before further progress is possible.

例句

Beatrix argued that learning to read music is a foundational skill for any young pianist.

foundational + skill: most common collocation

Trust between doctor and patient is a foundational element of good medical care.

foundational element of [abstract noun]

同義詞
  • fundamental

    near-synonym; slightly more everyday and more common in spoken English

  • basic

    simpler register; refers to what is essential or minimal, not necessarily what something is built on

  • underlying

    emphasises what lies beneath the surface rather than what came first

  • core

    emphasises central importance rather than the idea of a base layer to build on

反義詞
  • peripheral

    describes ideas or details on the edge, not central

  • superficial

    describes what is on the surface and not deeply important

文法句型

foundational + noun

用法筆記

Almost always attributive (foundational X) or predicative with 'to' (X is foundational to Y). Avoid 'very foundational' — the adjective is non-gradable in careful writing.

常見錯誤

❌Reading is very foundational for kids.
✅Reading is foundational for kids.
💡'foundational' is non-gradable; drop 'very'.
❌These ideas are foundational of modern science.
✅These ideas are foundational to modern science.
💡the predicative preposition is 'to', not 'of'.